Missile firm joins Aldi at Logistics North
AN arms manufacturer that specialises in missile defence systems is planning a 100,000 sq ft facility at Logistics North, the former Cutacre opencast colliery near Bolton.
MBDA, part-owned by Airbus and BAE Systems, is the second business to sign up to the development at junction 4 of the M61 after Aldi which is moving its regional head office from Stakehill Industrial Estate in Middleton to a 440,000 sq ft building.
Rotherham-based Harworth Estates is behind Logistics North which has planning consent for four million sq ft of distribution and manufacturing space.
MBDA has bought an eight-acre site and is moving from its current facility in nearby Lostock where it employs 400 staff.
Bernard Waldron, director of manufacturing at the company, said “The acquisition of the site is a major step in our plans and we can now move on to the next stage of preparing the ground works in this important and exciting development for MBDA and its employees. This new site is reinforcing both our foundation in the Bolton local economy and community and the future of our manufacturing capability.”
Haworth director Phil Wilson said: “The deals with MBDA and Aldi reflect the strength of demand for high-quality industrial space in the North West. Logistics North is one of the North West’s most significant new developments and with the start of construction now underway we look forward to attracting more high-calibre occupiers to the site.”
Permission was granted for opencast mining at the site in 2001 and over a million tonnes of coal was extracted between 2006 and 2011 when it closed. Under an original agreement the opencast site was to be turned into a country park and Harworth’s decision to dedicate 250-acres to a logistics base has attracted significant opposition from residents. It is still committed to a 600-acre country park at the site.
Harworth’s agents at Logistics North are JLL and DTZ.
